FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
As an experienced, trained professional, I charge $35-40/hour for Skype lessons. I provide an individualized and highly practical curriculum that will help you meet your goals. I usually request that my students buy one reference book; it costs about $10, and it is not required. I provide all other materials. I do offer discounted packages; these are discussed according the student's needs. We will discuss any concerns you have, and I offer a free 20-minute consultation for anyone who is undecided and needs more information. You are also not locked in; a one-on-one environment can be very personal and you need to find out that I am the right person for you.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The process begins with an assessment of the student's level. The initial weeks are a learning process about each other. As we get to know each other, I discover more about my student's learning style, which types of exercises are helpful for that person and which are not; how I need to modify materials; how much homework I can assign, etc. I usually have my students buy one reference book, for around $10, and I provide the rest of the materials. After the assessment, I fill in the curriculum from my student's starting point, and based around his or her goals. If the goal is conversation, there will be less focus on reading and writing; if the goal is to read texts, there will be less focus on conversation. My teaching methods: Immersion, Conversation, Practicality and Cultural Competency. Immersion: I teach all in Spanish from day one. No need to worry! All my students have excelled in this way, even though each individual learns differently. We start very slowly and simply; you will be surprised how much you can understand. I also use a lot of gesture and drawings. I do not have you memorize lists of words. Conversation and Practicality: My number one focus is verbs. We start with verbs and family. You will be able to have a simple, yet full conversation by the end of Class 3, and everyone talks about family, it is the place to start. This will build your foundation for verb and sentence composition, by which you can communicate everything. Every class includes a structured and unstructured conversation. This ratio will invert as you progress in the language. For structured conversation, I developed a simple and practical method that uses spontaneous dialogue based on given exercises. This will challenge your listening and speaking skills. I also stick firmly to practical use: no debates about whether Baltasar Garzón should support Julian Assange or not. Of course, if you want to go there, we will. But I keep our conversations practical so that you can soon start better understanding your neighbors, patients or clients. Cultural Competency: Cultural competency means understanding that people see the world differently and they act differently according to ingrained and inherited beliefs. There are positives and negatives to every aspect of life, thought and behavior. I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel extensively and learn a variety of languages. I do use music and literature to teach, and I use materials that are either close to the heart and mind of many Spanish speakers or are reflective of everyday lives and experiences. While sometimes maybe very broad generalizations can be made, the truth is there is no "latino culture". There are cultureS. Latin America comprises more than 20 countries; there is much diversity between these countries and within them. Spanish gives you an amazing tool to be able to communicate with hundreds of millions of people and to hear their story.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My bachelor's degree is in Spanish and Ancient Greek. My master's is in Latin American Studies, with three areas of concentration: Spanish language and literature; Indigenous history, colonization, and living cultures; Andean studies. I have been teaching for 10 years - I taught Spanish to undergraduate students at Ohio University for two years; I directed the study abroad program to Ecuador for three years; I worked as a writing tutor for five years. In my studies, I took courses on language, literature and teaching methodology. I also have 100 hours in medical interpreter training, and I work as an interpreter with Program for Torture Victims in Los Angeles. This means I am experienced in the generalized medical and mental health fields, should you have a specific interest related to your career. Most importantly, I have had the opportunity to travel extensively and immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking country. I lived for two years in Ecuador and worked and traveled extensively in Colombia and Peru. I draw from these experiences of living abroad and of teaching to design courses of study, and I realize that every student is an individual with unique learning styles, personality, goals and motivation.